Leviticus Chapter 22

“And the Lord spake unto Moses, etc.] Immediately after he had spoken concerning blemishes in priests, and in a continued discourse signifying, that though priests that had blemishes might eat of the holy things, yet neither they, nor even such who had not any, if they were under legal impurity, might eat of them: saying; as follows.”

“THE PRIESTS IN THEIR UNCLEANNESS. (Lev 22:1-9) Speak unto Aaron and to his sons, that they separate themselves from the holy things--"To separate" means, in the language of the Mosaic ritual, "to abstain"; and therefore the import of this injunction is that the priests should abstain from eating that part of the sacrifices which, though belonging to their order, was to be partaken of only by such of them as were free from legal impurities. that they profane not my holy name in those things which they hallow unto me, &c.--that is, let them not, by their want of due reverence, give occasion to profane my holy name.…”

““Speak ... that they so abstain from touching the holy things (i. e. the sacrificial food of all kinds) of the children of Israel which they consecrate unto me, that they profane not my holy name.” This law related to the daily life and the ordinary food of the priests. return to 'Top of Page'”

“Separate themselves - When any uncleanness is upon them, as appears from Lev 22:3-4. From the holy things - From eating of those parts of the offerings, which belong to them. Only of the tithes they might eat. They - The children of Israel. And it ill became the priests to profane or pollute what the people did hallow. Leviticus 22:3”

“22:2-6 The priest’s portions of the sacred offerings were regarded as “most holy” (see 2:3) and were not to come into contact with anything unclean (11:1–15:33). Accordingly, any descendant of Aaron who was unclean was forbidden to eat this food.”

“Lev 22:3-6, Lev 15:31; Num 6:3-8 that they profane not: This is the very ground of the prohibition, that they might preserve in their minds a holy reverence for the Divine Majesty. Hence when they approached unto him, they must be free from every legal impurity. If great men are to be approached with respect, how much more must Jehovah be approached with holy reverence! Lev 22:32, Lev 18:21, Lev 19:12, Lev 20:3, Lev 21:6 hallow: Exo 13:12, Exo 28:38; Num 18:32; Deu 15:19 Leviticus 22:3”

“Reverence for Things Sanctified. - The law on this matter was, (1) that no priest who had become unclean was to touch or eat them ( Lev 22:2-9), and (2) that no one was to eat them who was not a member of a priestly family ( Lev 22:10-16). Lev 22:2-3 Aaron and his sons were to keep away from the holy gifts of the children of Israel, which they consecrated to Jehovah, that they might not profane the holy name of Jehovah by defiling them הנּזר with מן to keep away, separate one's self from anything, i.e., not to regard or treat them as on a par with unconsecrated things. The words, "which they sanctify to Me," are…”